A PLANNING application has gone in for a £20m development in Ashington town centre.

The Community and Leisure Facility promises to help revitalise the centre of the Northumberland town while bringing together community services.

The planning application for the project has now been submitted to Northumberland County Council, with a decision expected early next year.

Those behind the new building say it is designed to be a welcoming and inclusive space. It will house a new swimming pool, gym, spa, sports hall and studio space to host classes and activities.

And it will also be the first point of contact for frontline council services, including a library, registrar’s service, caf&eacute; and meeting spaces.

Peter McIntyre, managing director of Arch Group, behind the plans, said: “The new Community and Leisure Facility is at the heart of plans to regenerate and revitalise Ashington town centre. The new facility will act as a catalyst for further improvements to Ashington Town Centre and will provide high quality leisure activities and community- based services for local people.”

The designs have been developed after extensive consultation with local people. More than 2,000 people have provided feedback and given their views on the types of community and leisure activities they would like to see.

Coun Neil Bradbury of Northumberland County Council, said: “The public reaction was incredibly positive. People told us they were impressed with the proposed design for the new facility and are looking forward to having new amenities in Ashington.”

Subject to planning permission, it is expected that building work will start in spring 2013 and open to the public in 2014.